Waterproof entrance-fitting for service-conduits.



E. H. FREEMAN.

WATERPROOF ENTRANCE FITTING FOR SERVICE connuns.

. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6. 1916- Patented Apr. 23, 1918.

UNITED STATES PATENT GFFIGE.

EDGAR H. FREEMAN, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, A-SSIGNOR T0 E. H. FREEMAN ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NElV JERSEY.

WATERPROOF ENTRANCE-FITTING FOR SERVICE-CONDITITS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 23, 1918.

Application filed. November 6, 1:916. Serial No. 129,825.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR H. FREEMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Trenton, in the county of Mercer and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVaterproof Entrance-Fittings for ServiceConduits, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the general subject of electrical. junction boxes, and has special reference to an improved weatherproof fittin for the exposed entrance end of service conduits.

Ordinarily buildings supplied with an electrical current from overground wires are provided with an upstanding service conduit pipe which carries the wires from the nearest pole or the like to the meter in the building. This pipe is usually located on one of the side walls of the building and arranged in a vertical position, whereby the entrance end thereof is exposed to weather conditions, and to keep this pipe dry and free from forcign matter and properly insulated from the wires, it is desirable, and in fact, necessary that the inlet be protected by suitable and effective means. Accordingly, to this end, the present invention has in view a simple and practical weather-proof fitting, which, while permitting the entrance of the Wires in the service pipe, effectually excludes water, dirt and other foreign matter therefrom, as well as providing for a most thorough insulation of the parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character set forth having but few and simple parts, thereby not only making the same economical to manufacture, but at the same time greatly facilitating the assembling of the insulation. In this connection, the invention proposes to eliminate the relatively small insulator bush ings which frequently become broken, and a multiplicity of other parts that would other wise add to the complexity of the device and consequent difficulty in handling.

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts here inafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective View of the assembled fitting.

Fig. 2 is a disassembled view showing more clearly the entire formation of the cap member device.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical. sectional view thereof, and

Fig. A is a transverse sectional view on the line -i4 of Fig. 3.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

As set forth in the foregoing objects, the present invention proposes to provide a device that is simple and practical and an effective insulator, and to this end employs only two principal parts, namely, the coupling member designated generally by the reference numeral 1, and a unitary cap memher 2, the detail features of both being hereinafter more fully referred to. But, an important feature of the invention which may be noted at this point is that the cap member 2 is made entirely of insulating material, preferably porcelain, thus having the advantage of being a complete electrical insulator, while at the same time providing ample facilities for housing the wires entering the service conduit, and effectually keeping the latter dry and free from foreign matter. Furthermore, this cap member is made entirely of one piece, and is so constructed that it may be readily and quickly attached to the coupling member with ease and facility, and at the same time form a water-proof joint.

Referring now more particularly to the coupling member 1, it will be observed that the same includes a body portion 3 having an interiorly threaded coupling boll 4: for engaging with the end of the service conduit, while the other end of the body 3 is formed with an angularly disposed neck portion 5 having formed therewith the annular attaching flange, which, because of the angular disposition of the neck 5, occupies an oblique position with reference to the longitudinal axis of the body of the coupling member.

This attaching flange 6 forms a convenient support for the cap member 2, which previously pointed out, is formed entirely of insulating material. As will be observed from the several figures of the drawings, this cap is hollow and of substantially semispherical form having an exterior spherical surface which provides an effective watershed and an interior wire-receiving chamber C, which gives ample room for manipulating the wires, and making a joint at the point of entrance into the service conduit, if this is necessary. This formation of the cap member, therefore, provides a chambered semispherical cap member, whose walls are rela tively stout and capable of withstanding considerable handling without breakage, which is of much practical importance in an insulator of the porcelain type. The flat. open side of the cap is preferably provided with a rabbeted flange-receiving seat 7, which is of such character and dimensionsas to snugly and flushly receive the attaching flange 6 of the coupling member to pro ide a tight water-proof joint.

The wire entrance openings 8 of the cap member are formed at the lower or bottom side thereof, and have their axes lying in a plane substantially parallel with the obliquely disposed attaching flange 6, whereby in the application of the device, the said wirereceiving openings occupy a downwardly directed position to prevent rain water or the like from following the wires and dripping down into the service conduit. These wire-entrance openings 8 are located between the fastening elements for securing the cap member to the attaching flange. As will be observed from the drawings, the external surface of the cap member is provided with the fastening-receiving sockets 9, which are in open communication with a keeper opening 10, which receives the fastening screws 11. These fastening screws project into the interior of the cap, and are partially exposed in the wire-receiving chamber C, as will be seen from Figs. 2 and 4:, wherein the side walls of the said chamber are also shown as specially formed to provide for a suitable fiber or equivalent washer 12 being placed on the shanks thereof to hold the same in the keeper openings to hold the screws in place in the cap. This feature is of much practical value in the handling and shipping of the caps, since the fastenings therefor may be conveniently and permanently associated therewith, although the presence of the washer on the shank of the screw in no way prevents the free turning movement thereof to enter the threaded openings 13 in the flange 6 of the coupling member. These openings 13 are preferably diametrically disposed on the cap member as shown in Fig. 4.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that one of the distinctive features of the present invention is the forming of the cap member 2 entirely of insulating material preferably porcelain, and forming wire-receiving openings therein for the line wires, without the necessity of using separate bushings or other parts which are likely to become lost or readily broken on account of their relatively thin and fragile character. Furthermore, the general shape and the means of connecting the cap member with the coupling member provide an ell'ective water shed, and the extremely simple means of attaching the cap to the coupling greatly facilitates the installation of the fitting to the service conduit.

lVithout further description, it is thought that the many features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent, and it will, of course, be understood that various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A water proof entrance fitting for service conduits comprising a coupling member having an out-turned attaching flange disoc-sed oblique to the longitudinal axis of said member, and a one-piece insulating hollow cap entirely embracing and covering the edge portion of said flange and provided with an external spherical surface, the said cap having also at its lower side a plurality of wire openings disposed in plane approximately parallel with the plane of the oblique flange.

2. A water-proof entrance fitting for service conduits comprising a coupling member having an out-turned attaching flange lying in a plane oblique to the axis of the body thereof, and a onc piece semi-spherical insulatin cap member having an interior wirereceiving chamber opening at the flat side thereof and a rabbetcd seat for receiving said flange, said cap member also having fastening receiving openings piercing opposite edge portions thereof at right angles to said. flange, and wire-receiving passages lying in a plane parallel to the obliquely disposed attaching flange and having their mouths opening at the lower edge of the cap.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDGAR I-l. FREEMAN.

lVitnesses:

ADA MARSH, HAROLD PALMER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, I). C. 

